Nearly a year after the Red Lion Restaurant's only access bridge crumbled under the pressure of high water and washed into Boulder Creek, county officials have approved a permit for a new permanent bridge, clearing the way for construction to begin in weeks.

Red Lion owner Christoff Mueller said Friday that he's excited about getting the approval and about the prospect of having a new bridge in place this summer. But he said the "complicated job" is far from over.

"But so far everyone is working together, and we are making really good progress," he said Friday.

The Boulder County Transportation Department is running a public notice in Sunday's Camera regarding its issuance of a floodway development permit for the Red Lion bridge at 38470 Boulder Canyon Drive after finding development plans to be in compliance with the county's Land Use Code.

After the notice runs, members of the public will have two weeks to offer input at Board of Commissioners meetings.

As part of the floodway permit, the county is requiring construction to start within a week after the public comment period closes, said Transportation Director George Gerstle. Once construction begins, Gerstle said, the county is requiring the bridge be completed within three weeks.

That would mean the new bridge would be up and ready for use sometime in July, he said. If for some reason crews think construction will take longer -- like if high creek levels make work too dangerous -- the Red Lion will need to get a county engineer's permission to delay the project, Gerstle said

"That would be an example of when the county engineer could extend the construction time," he said.

The 47-year-old restaurant nearly had to shutter earlier this year after the county filed a lawsuit asking a judge to order the Red Lion to start the process of installing a permanent bridge that meets public safety standards by April 1 -- or close.

With about 100 weddings planned at the business this summer, Red Lion officials began fast work to submit their design plans, and the county in late March agreed to give the restaurant more time because it had made "substantial progress."

Gerstle, on Friday, said the Red Lion's engineers have provided sufficient information showing the proposed bridge complies with floodplain regulations, and -- although some minor changes will be required to the proposed structure -- a building permit will be issued in the next few days.

Following the June 8 high-water event that washed away the Red Lion's only access bridge from Boulder Canyon Drive over Boulder Creek, the county agreed to allow the restaurant to continue operating using a temporary bridge. That agreement, however, required the restaurant to being construction on a permanent bridge within six months, which didn't happen.

The county filed its lawsuit to push the Red Lion to get moving on a new bridge because the temporary structure was considered a "threat to public health and safety" that was expected to grow substantially with creek levels rising this spring.

The proposed permanent bridge will be moved slightly downstream from the old bridge and will consist of two adjacent railroad flatcars with guardrails that will be placed on a solid foundation, Gerstle said. The new bridge will be about 20 feet wide -- allowing emergency vehicles to access the property at the same time vehicles are leaving -- and will be able to withstand a 100-year flood without impacting other properties downstream.

It will be strong enough to hold a fire truck with a full load of water, Gerstle said.

Red Lion's Mueller is still holding out hope that the city of Boulder will help pay for the permanent bridge, which is expected to cost $360,000. The city is looking to build a new trail that would link Flagstaff Road to Boulder Canyon via Chapman Drive, a back road that leads to the Red Lion, and Mueller said the city needs to use his bridge to create such a trail.

Mueller on Friday said he met with city officials this week regarding their possible financial backing, but they haven't committed to anything, in part, because Mueller does not yet have an official estimate on the bridge's cost.

City spokesman Sarah Huntley confirmed that Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks officials have met with Mueller and his attorneys, but Huntley said nothing has been decided about whether to provide any money for the bridge.

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